Improvement in skeleton-crates for hats



W. J. WINGHART. Skeleton Grate for Hat, 8:0. Np. 2l4,269. Patented April 15, I879 fay] %eas fiz /265565 172% /2/07;

NIPETERS. PHOTO urnocmpnm wAwmuTQN n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. WIN GHART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HEIMANN & WALL, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SKELETON-CRATES FOR HATS, 80C.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 214,269, dated April 15, 1879 application filed February 11, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM J. WINGHART, of New York city, have invented a novel Skeleton Crate or Package for Straw Hats, &c., of which the following is a specification.

Heretofore, in packing straw and felt hats, a column of the hats, nested together, is usually placed in a long paper box, which boxes are then placed in wooden cases for shipment. A stay, formed of-a cylinder of paper, is usually placed in the bottom of the paper boxes to enter the crown of the lowermost hat, and thus give a support thereto. This stay, however, being of weak paper, is liable to collapse, and thus leave the column of hats liable to be crushed, which often happens, with considerable loss. Moreover, the inclosing paper box entirely conceals the hats, so that their removal is necessary should it be desired to inspect or count them.

The annexed drawings represent my improved device, which forms a substitute for the paper boxes, and overcomes the objections which apply thereto.

Figure leis a sectional side elevation on line 0 0 of Fig. 2, which is a sectional plan on line as aof Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragment-aryelevation of the top of the device, looking toward the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is afragmentary perspective view in outline on a reduced scale, with the top closed 5 and Fig. 5, the same with the top open.

The improved package, as illustrated, consists of a light wire frame or cage, of slightly oblong shape in transverse section, as shown in Fig. 2, and formed of two upright wires, A A B B, on each side, which bend inwardly at the bottom, forming a supporting-base, and terminate in a central upward projection, O, which forms a stay, to enter the lowermost hat, and thus give a firm support to the column of hats which are inclosed by the upright wires, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

The bends of the wires forming the head of the central projection or non-collapsible stay, 0, are joined by a plate, d, of sheet metal, the margins of which are turned over the wires and soldered thereto, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus firmly connecting the wires together into the form of a cage or skeleton-frame, as shown.

The cage is made snfficiently high to contain the usual dozen or other number of hats,

and the top of the cage is fitted with ahinged lid or cover, E, also formed of wire, bent into the form of a cross, parallel with the wires of the base, as seen in Fig. 2. The tops of the upright wires A A on two sides of the cage, as on the right and left of Fig. 1, and as shown at the center of Fig. 3, are curled into spiral crooks or eyes f f, and the wire cover is permanently hinged to the eyes f of the wires at one side of the cage, while the opposite end of the lid, which is looped, interlocks with the crooks or eyes f of the opposite wires, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thus forming a secure and simple fastening to hold the hats in place.

It will be readily understood that the looped end of the lid E is engaged with the crooks f by pressing the wires A together, when they will readily enter the loop of the lid, and by then allowing the wires to spring apart the parts become securely interlocked, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The top of the wires B B, at right angles to the wires A A, shown centrally in Fig. 1, terminate in upwardly-projecting hooks g g, with which the loops at the other cross of the lid engage and interlock in a manner which will be readily understood.

It will be seen that the cage or skeletonpackage thus formed is of very simple and cheap construction, and that it furnishes a firm support to the hats, effectually preventing the crushing of the crowns. Furthermore, the condition of the hats can at once be observed and their number readily counted, which is not the case with the usual package, thus presenting the advantages of convert ience and economy of time to both the seller and the purchaser.

What I claim as my invention is A skeleton crate or package for straw and other hats, &c., formed of a cage of upright wires, terminating at the bottom in a supporting-base having a central upward projection, adapted to support the crown of the hats, and provided with a lid or cover at the top, arranged to interlock with the tops of upright inclosing-wires of the cage, substantially as herein shown and described.

WILLIAM J. WINGHART.

Witnesses:

GHAs. M. HIGGINS, JOHN E. GAVIN. 

